Minister Pule urges stronger protection for older persons’ rights
Social Development Minister Dina Pule says laws alone will not keep older people safe and included, and wants families, municipalities and communities to act.
Older South Africans need stronger safeguards against mistreatment and exclusion, Social Development Minister Dina Pule said on Friday, according to SAnews.
Pule was speaking in Mangaung in the Free State, where the 2026 National Active Ageing Programme was launched. The event took place at the stadium named after Dr Petrus Rantlai Molemela. The programme includes the Golden Games, a sports event, and a choir festival for older persons. It draws participants from all nine provinces and aims to promote healthy ageing and keep seniors socially engaged.
Rights, not charity
The minister said protecting older people is not a favour. She described it as a duty that flows from the Constitution, from the law and from the country’s commitment to dignity and equality.
She pointed to the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 as an important framework for protecting seniors and supporting services that let them live with dignity. But she stressed that legislation on its own is not enough. Government, civil society, families and communities all have to work together over the long term.
Pule warned against claiming to respect older people while ignoring elder abuse, loneliness, poor care or their exclusion from community life. She called for the legal and policy framework to be strengthened further, including through suitable amendments to the Older Persons Act.
She also said government must make appropriate care and support services easier to reach. Older persons should be consulted on, and included in, decisions and activities that affect them.
Beyond the annual event
The Active Ageing Programme is one of the Department of Social Development’s flagship initiatives. It uses community projects, sport, recreation and learning to help older people stay active and connected.
Pule said the Golden Games help challenge negative stereotypes about getting older. She said seniors should not be seen only as people who receive grants or care, but as citizens, mentors, artists, athletes and community leaders who contribute to the economy and society.
She asked municipalities and local structures to run active-ageing activities all year round. In her words, “Active ageing must not be confined to an annual national gathering.”
What it means for older people and families
The minister’s message points to a push for better care services and more say for seniors in local decisions. Families and community groups were also named as partners in protecting older relatives and neighbours.
Pule encouraged eligible senior citizens to vote in the Local Government Elections, which she said are scheduled for Wednesday next week. Older persons, she said, have the right to take part in democratic processes. “The value of a person does not diminish with age,” she said.
This story is based on reporting by SAnews.
